Trump convenes "God Squad" to override Endangered Species Act, up oil production
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
Trump administration is convening religious advisors to override Endangered Species Act protections to increase oil production.
How This Affects You
Weakening of species protections could reduce biodiversity in your region and affect long-term ecosystem services like water filtration and pollination that support agriculture and food costs.
AI Summary
The Trump administration is invoking the Endangered Species Committee—rarely used in its nearly 50-year history—to potentially override protections for imperiled species including sea turtles and a whale species with only 51 remaining individuals in order to expand oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the panel, informally called the "God Squad," will convene Tuesday to determine whether fossil fuel operations on federally regulated land outweigh species preservation on national security grounds. The committee has lifted restrictions only twice before. No specific Gulf projects or criteria for the override have been disclosed, and the outcome could reshape environmental enforcement across federal energy operations.
Source Coverage Map
2 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
1 sourceMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.
Trump to revoke protections for endangered species in Gulf of Mexico
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Iran & Middle East Conflict
Tracking the evolving military and diplomatic situation across the Middle East, including US-Iran tensions, Israeli operations, proxy conflicts, and the broader geopolitical implications for the region.
Climate & Environment
Monitoring climate change developments, extreme weather events, environmental policy shifts, energy transition progress, and the scientific, economic, and political dimensions of the environmental crisis.
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
EnvironmentFederal 'God squad' poised to exempt oil and gas drilling in the Gulf from endangered species rules - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxNX1I5eWNaM2NQdTBUV1JQSnRlN0luRXJYRzdjNEZ4V0hidlFiV1ZDMjNBTVJfYTUtVXZTQnJkWmM5X0RZS21Jd0VhWGo4WlRleHJ1N3poSTJyOEY1QmNlWlpPVWVjMk9GM0dzdC1ibXJEMEllZjNSSWVXbmVVbU15WHdyZUszUlFGdmJrOVBPVUdrX1dDbW5vV2E5bVJ4Z3lPaW5r?oc=5" target="_blank">Federal 'God squad' poised to exempt oil and gas drilling in the Gulf from endangered species rules</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
PoliticsTrump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxNYlZqbGI1UTEtdHhCeXNKRkhzWVo1ZUlHclF0SDE4VXA4cFc4X1VRVG9neEFNMnNaVjFUeFZvNkJUSnJZYjNOWDFrbmZPa0NHaU4yaU1fODFfMVYxblRBbmNDSXl2eXdPVVd5eE5FNzkyekt5cDF0bWJVQnQ3VzNWZ0phVVZNZnNCN2pBZG1jU0t1Z245MENobmtQcUxRZw?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
PoliticsEurope seeks to increase deportations, quietly adopting Trump administration tactics
The European Union is expanding its powers to track, raid and deport migrants to "return hubs″ in third countries in Africa and elsewhere, quietly adopting tactics of the Trump administration.
PoliticsStates pay contractors millions to comply with Trump law to cut Medicaid rolls
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add red tape and restrictions for those seeking Medicaid and SNAP benefits. And the costs to update computer systems that determine eligibility for those programs will be steep.
Civil RightsJudge allows Trump subpoena collecting info on Jewish students, faculty at Penn
A federal judge ruled Tuesday the University of Pennsylvania has to comply with a subpoena from the Trump administration requesting lists of Jewish faculty, students and organizations and their contact information as part of a discrimination probe. Judge Gerald Pappert ruled the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is within its constitutional right to collect the information from Penn. “For their…
FinanceOil, stock trading spikes before Trump's Iran remarks spark insider trading suspicions
Thousands of oil contracts -- a far higher volume than normal -- were traded 15 minutes before Trump pledged to halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, sending prices tumbling. Traders who bet on prices dropping ahead of the announcement would likely have profited from Trump's sudden reversal, prompting analysts to question whether some market participants had acted on prior information. FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks with Meziane Lasfer, Professor of Finance at Bayes Business School, City University.
Federal “God Squad” Votes to Override Endangered Species Laws for Offshore Drilling
This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Update, March 31: The “God Squad” has indeed voted to override endangered species protections in the Gulf. The Trump administration is turning to the nuclear option on endangered-species protections in the name of national security. A rarely tapped panel […]
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
'The gravest crime against humanity': What does the UN vote on slavery mean?
Senate deal reached to cap insulin costs
At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence 'against those who deserve no mercy'
After 16 years and $8 billion, the military's new GPS software still doesn't work
US paves way for private assets to be included in 401(k) retirement plans - Reuters
